We fished the Pocomoke River launching out of Snow Hill, MD. We arrived at the dock around 6:30a to the incoming tide and fished both the incoming and outgoing tide. A bass fishing tournament was going on so there was more traffic in the area than usual. We went a short ride down river and fished the banks and lily pads.
As we were fishing the lily pads we kept seeing several large fish swimming around in the lily pads. These fish were at least 24” long. It appeared that they were swimming on top of the lily pads. Upon further research, we learned that the fish were snakehead.
Snakeheads are native to parts of Africa and Asia. These elongated, predatory fish are distinguished by their long dorsal fins, large mouths, and shiny teeth. They breathe air with gills, which allows them to migrate sort distance over land. They are valuable as a food source and have become notorious as an intentionally released invasive species. Depending on the species they can reach between 10” to 35” in length. Snakeheads are thrust-feeders that consume plankton, aquatic insects, and mollusks when small. As adults, they mostly feed on other fish or on frogs. They are an invasive species because the absence of a natural enemy gives them apex predator status. They reach sexual maturity by age two or three and can mate as often as five time a year allowing the female to release up to 15,000 eggs each time. Snakehead meat is firm, white and flaky and holds up well to pan frying, grilling, and oven baking.
We did not have a good day casting our lures. We stuck quite a few of them in many places, more times than we want to remember. In the lily pads, in the trees, in the submerged logs, in the dead roots. It felt like we spent more time retrieving lures than fishing. I lost my good Strike King Buzz bait, too. I loved that lure.
We each hooked a fish but were not able to bring it on board because it “got away”. John did catch a large mouth bass and got it into the boat. Yeah, one in the boat!
SIDE NOTE: When we were by the bank retrieving one of our many wedged lures, we saw a tree that had beaver damage to it. It was amazing to see how a beaver can chew a tree down. Wood art by Beaver!